FEMA Director Brown Relieved of Katrina Duties

Amid growing criticism, embattled FEMA director Michael Brown has been relieved of his duties as on-site coordinator of the government’s Hurricane Katrina rescue and relief effort. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced today that Coast Guard Vice Adm. Thad Allen would take over for Brown.

CNN reports that Sec. Chertoff suggested the replacement of Brown came as the Gulf Coast efforts were entering "a new phase of the recovery operation,” and that Brown would be returning to Washington to “oversee the government's response to other potential disasters.”

On Thursday, allegations surfaced that Brown may have exaggerated his past emergency management experience on his resume used to land the FEMA directorship. The Bush Administration has offered no official comment on the allegations, but Brown refereed to the statements as “inaccuracies and lies,” in an Associated Press interview. See CNN report.

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